Food warmer



Dec. 9, 1958 H. J. FITZGERALD FOOD WARMER 5 SheetS-Sheet 1 Filed Feb.27, 1957 ATTORNEYS Dec. 9, 1958 H. J. FITZGERALD FOOD WARMER 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 27, 1957 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Dec. 9, 1958 H. J.FITZGERALD 2,853,979

FooD WARMER Filed Feb. 27, 1957 s sheets-sheet s ATTORNEY FOD WARMERFitzgerald, Whitefish Bay, Wis., assigner to -y, lne., Miiwankee, Wis.,a corporation of Appiication February 27, 1957, Serial No. 642,895

6 Claims. (Cl. 219--35) This invention relates to food warming apparatusand it more particularly resides in a warmer for food-stuffs packaged inrelatively tall containers, of generally elongated cuplikeconfiguration, in which there is a lower base with raised side wallsthat forms a heat box open at the top, the heat box having a grid forreceiving and holding the containers with the bottom portions within thebase and the upper portions extending upwardly from the base, and therebeing both a heater in the bottom of the heat box that is beneath thecontainers and a second heater that delivers radiant energy poised abovethe containers.

The invention iinds particular use in heating prepared starchy foodproducts, such as popped corn, which are of relatively poor heatconductivity. Such food products are convenientiy merchandised in singleservings contained in paper cups, and as such are offered to prospectivepurchasers who, through self-service, remove the foodstuff from awarming apparatus. 1t is most di'rlicult to maintain such foodstuffs,served in such manner, at warming temperatures that render the food mostpalatable. Heat applied in usualL manner is readily lost to theatmosphere, and intense local heating can raise temperatures of theserving apparatus to levels that customers may be injured uponinadvertently coming into Contact there with.

rfhe invention solves the problem of retaining popped corn, and thelike, in individual servings at warming temperatures, without unwantedoverheating of exposed portions of the serving apparatus. A radiant heatsource is located aeove the food product and the energy deliveredthereby which does not strike the foodsturs passes to the interior of anunderlying base of some substantial depth. The heat energy not impartedto the food product is then evolved within the base, which consequentlyserves as a heat box that captures and releases heat, with a gentle howof warmed moving upwardiy along the sides of the containers holding thefood product. As an aid to the evolution of heat within the contines ofthe base a second local heater may be located therein.

it is an object of this invention to provide a food warmer for heatingfoodstuffs in elongated cups of individual servings.

lt is another object of this invention to provide a food warmer forserving foodstuff in an open traylike structure that facilitatesself-service.

It is another object of this invention to provide a food warmer foruniformly heating food products that are relatively poor heatconductors.

it is another object of this invention to provide a food warmer thatboth illuminates and heats the foods held thereby,

it is another object of this invention to provide a food warmer that maybe easily cleaned.

it is another object of this invention 'to provide a food warmer havingremovable trays for containers for the to be served therefrom, so thattrays may te at the same time another is being actively air hired,States arent movement.

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The foregoing and other objects and advantages lof this invention willappear from the description to follow. ln the description reference ismade to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and inwhich there is shown by way of illustration and not of limitation aspecic form in which this invention may be embodied.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side view in elevation and in section of a food warmingapparatus embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a rear view in elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. l withparts broken away and in section,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a removable tray forming a part of theapparatus, and in which parts are broken away and in section for thepurposes of clarity, and

Fig. 4 is a plan View of a heating element forming a part of theapparatus.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a boxlike base 1 having abottom 2 standing upon a set of four rubber cushion-feet 3. A front walld extends upwardly from the front edge of the bottom 2 with a slightforward incline, and extending rearwardly from the side edges of thefront Wall 4 s a pair of side walls 5 and 6. Each side wall 5, 6 extendsupwardly from a side edge of the bottom 2 and the upper limits thereofare inclined upwardly to the rear, as is particularly shown in Fig. l.The upper margins of the walls 4, 5 and e are turned inwardly to presenta border for the open top of the base ll. The base 1 is also open at therear.

Directly behind the front wall 4 is a partition 7, clearly shown in Fig.l, which acts as a stop for removable elements of the apparatus, andalso as a mounting for a female plug 8 to be connected to a power sourcethrough lead wires 9, a portion only of which is shown. As isparticularly shown in Fig. 2, a set of three shallow inverted channelsit! are secured to the upper side of the bottom 2, as as to act as guiderails for a heater assembly in a manner hereinafter to be described.'- Asecond set of channels 11 are mounted on edge to the inside of the sideWalls 5, 6 to provide a set of guide tracks.

A heater assembly 12 having a rectangular frame 13 lits within thebottom of the boxlike base l. A set or downwardly facing channels 14that extend forwardly and rearwardly are attached to the bottom of theframe 13, and are spaced from one another so as to iit over the invertedchannels lll on the bottom Z. ln this fashion the heater assembly 12 maybe slid into the base i from. the rear, and also removed therefrom, witha guided To facilitate removal and replacement of the heater assembly 12a pair of handles 15 are provided on the back of the frame 13.

A set of four cross braces 16 are spaced from one another and extendbetween the opposite sides of the frame 13 to support heating elementsi7 of the resistance type. The elements 17 span the depth of the base 1several times, to provide uniform heat across the entire area of thebase 1, and a pilot lamp 13 is connected to one heating element 17 toindicate when the elements i7 are energized. A male plug 19 at the frontof the frame 13 is joined to the elements 17 to supply power thereto,and is adapted to connect with the plug 8 upon insertion of the heaterassembly 12 within the bottom of the base 1. To complete the heaterassembly i2 a screen 20 covers the entire top thereof to protect theelements 17 from foodstulir and the like which may be dropped fromcontainers to be used in conjunction with the apparatus. Such screen 2t)is shown in Figs. l and 2, but has been broken away in Fig. 4 for thepurpose of clarity.

Immediately above the heater assembly 12 is a removable tray 21. Thetray 21 comprises a front wall 22, a rear wall 23 of greater height thanthe wall 22, and side walls 24, 25 extending between the side edges ofthe walls 22, 23 so as to form stijf rectangular structure open at thetop and bottom. The upper margins of each of the walls .ZZ-25, as wellas the lower margins are turned inwardly to lend additional rigidity tothe assembly, and the upper edges of the side walls 24, 25 inclinedownwardly from the rear at a slope that matches that of the side walls5, 6 of the base l. Each of the side walls 2d, 25 includes an opening 26to act as a handle for manipulating the tray 21 as it is inserted intoand removed from the base 1. To orientate the tray 21 as it is removedfrom, or inserted into, the base 1, and also to aid in the handling ofthe tray 21, there are provided a set of six rollers 27 at the sides ofthe tray 21 which are adapted to ride in and be received by the channels11 secured to the sides 5, 6 of the base 1.

The tray 21 is adapted to receive and hold a plurality of cup shapedcontainers 28, as is shown in Fig. l. The bottoms of the containers 2Srest upon a grid 29 comprised of strands running both sidewardly andfore and aft. The grid Z9 rises in a series of steps from the forwardportion of the tray 21 to the rear, so that the containers 28 riseaccordingly from the front to the rear, to enhance the servicing ofcustomers for the food products to be dispensed from the apparatus. Toretain the containers 28 in an orderly array, of rows both sideward andfore and aft, a second grid 30 is disposed in the top of the tray 21 ata substantial elevation above the grid 29. The strands comprising thegrid 30 present a plurality of rectangular openings in which thecontainers 28 may be received. Such openings are of dimension that thecontainers 28 may be easily inserted and withdrawn therefrom, but are ofsmall enough area to confine each of the containers 28 within a limitedspace so that an orderly array is maintained.

Extending upwardly from each side of the base 1 is a tubular support 31,which extends vertically fora slight distance, then turns at an inclineto the front for a substantial extent of its length, and then to thevertical at its upper terminus. Extending between the supports 31, so asto be suspended thereby, is a hood 32 having a flat top portion 33 anddownwardly flaring front and rear portions 3d, 35. The front 34 includesan opening behind which is set a glass 36 upon which decorative designsor indicia may be placed to aid in the sale of merchandise vended fromthe lapparatus of the invention. Immediately to the rear of the glass 36is a fluorescent illuminating bulb 37. To the rear of the bulb 37 is asupport bracket 38 running for the length of the hood 32 which mounts aset of three radiant heat lamps 39. The lamps 39 face downwardly suchthat radiant energy emitted therefrom is directed toward the base 1 andthe food products in the containers 28 to be warmed by the apparatus.Connections and circuits for the lamps .3Q-and the bulb 37 are notshown, as the manner of connectingy such elements is understood in theart.

In the use of the apparatus described a tray 21 is filled withcontainers 2S, which in turn are filled with a dry food product such aspopped corn. The tray 2.1 may be filled while it is in the base 1, ormay be filled prior to insertion in the base ll. In any event, duringpeak sales periods a number of trays 21 may be advantageously employedby filling one while another is in the base 1 for immediate dispensingof the food product to customers.

With the tray 21 in place, in the base ll, the heating elements 17 aswell as the radiant heat lamps 39 are energized. The resistance typeheating elements 17 heat the air immediately surrounding the same and byconvection heat is imparted tothe bottom portions of the containers 23.T he radiant heat lamps 39, on the other hand, transmit energy waves tothe upper portions of the containers 2S, which energy is transformed toheat upon the striking of the waves upon the foodstuff within thecontainers 28. By the employment of radiant heat lamps 39 the atmosphereabout the upper portions of the containers 28 remains relatively cool,so that no discomforts are experienced by purchasers of the foodproducts as they remove the containers 2S from the tray 21. Radiantenergy of the lamps 39, which is not converted to heat directly withinthe foodstuffs of the containers 28, passes downwardly between thecontainers 28 to the interior of the base il. Such energy Waves strikethe interior assemblage of the base 1 and heat is then evolved. Heatingdue to the waves is confined to within the base 1, so as to cause thebase 1 to act as a warming or hot box that contines the heat in a mannermost suitable for the warming of the food products within the containers28. In this fashion efficient heating is carried out.

As is customary in the handling of merchandise by customers, foodproducts will at times,` be dislodged from the containers 28 and falltherebetween. Such particles of food will fall upon the screen 20, whichis well above the heating elements 17, and will not be burned or friedto a degree that unwanted odors are developed. So that the screen 20 maybe readily cleaned the heater assembly 12 may be easily removed, ashereinbefore described7 and then reinserted with ease, so that there isno undue complication in the use of the apparatus of the invention.

The invention is particularly adapted for the warming of foodstuffsserved in containers of relatively elongated height, and wherein thefood products are of a material that does not readily conduct heat.Popped corn is an example of such a material, for it is in of itself arather efficient heat insulator. To heat such a food product theinvention presents a lower heat box containing a heating elementutilizing convection for obtaining a uniform temperature throughout theheat box which surrounds the bottom of the containers. The containers,however, rise above the boxlike base 1, with the greatest portion oftheir height projecting therefrom, so as to be readily displayed toprospective customers and to facilitate handling in self-service sales.In order that proper heat may be provided for retaining the entirecolumn of each of the containers 28 at appropriate temperatures radiantheat lamps are employed which radiate downwardly upon the containers andthe foodstuffs therein. Heat is then only evolved within vthe foodstuffsvso that temperatures of the apparatus and the immediate lambient arenot unnecessarily elevated. Also, as the containers are removed thespace occupied thereby is not heated by the lamps 39. Instead, radiantenergy is passed downwardly to within the base so that heat is evolvedtherein where it is entrapped for most effective use.

Iclaim:

1. In a food warmer the combination comprising a base having a bottomand side walls to present a box open at the top; an open grid in saidbox adapted to support a plurality of cups without any material blocloing of the interior of the box from the exterior, said grid including abase portion defining a series of supporting steps adapted to supportthe bottoms of said cups in tiered relationship, the marginal edgedefining the open top of the side walls of said box being in spacedvertical relationship relative to and above an adjacent supporting stepof said grid; a heater within the box to heat the interior thereof; asupporting structure rising above the box; and radiant heat meanscarried by the supporting structure positioned to direct radiant energythrough the grid toward the interior of the box.

2. In a food warmer the combination comprising a base having a bottomand side walls to present a box open at the top; an open grid in saidbox adapted to support a plurality of cups Without any material blockingof the interior of the box from the exterior, said grid including a baseportion defining a series of supporting steps and comprising a lowermesh adapted to support the bottoms of said cups in tiered relationship,the upper portion of said grid including a mesh with openings to allowthe cups to pass therethrough and to be supported from tipping; a heaterwithin the box to heat the interior thereof; a supporting structurerising above the box; and radiant heat means carried by the supportingstructure positioned to direct radiant energy through the grid towardthe interior of the box.

3. An apparatus in accordance With claim 2 wherein said grid comprises aremovable tray slidable to the rear.

4. In a food Warmer the combination comprising a base having a bottomand side Walls to present a box open at the top; an open grid in saidbox adapted to support a plurality of cups Without any material blockingof the interior of the box from the exterior said grid including a baseportion defining a series of supporting steps adapted to support thebottoms of said cups in tiered relationship, the marginal edge definingthe open top of the side Walls of said box being in spaced verticalrelationship relative to and above an adjacent supporting step of saidgrid; a supporting structure rising above the box; and radiant heatmeans carried by the supporting structure positioned to direct radiantenergy through the grid toward the interior of the box.

5. In ya food warmer the combination comprising a base having a bottomand side Walls to present a shallow box open at the top; an open grid insaid box adapted to support a plurality of cups Without any materialblocking of the interior of the box from the exterior said gridincluding a base portion defining a series of supe porting steps adaptedto support the bottoms of said cups in tiered relationship, the marginaledge defining the open top of the side Walls of said box being in spacedvertical relationship relative to and above an adjacent supporting stepof said grid; a heater Within the box to heat the interior thereof; ascreen disposed above the heater and beneath the grid; a supportingstructure rising -above the box; and radiant heat means carried by thesupporting structure positioned to direct radiant energy through thegrid toward the interior of the box.

6. In a food warmer the combination comprising a base having a bottomand side Walls to present a box open at the top; a removabletray in saidbox that is open at the top and bottom and which has an open gridadapted to support a plurality of cups, which grid does not materiallyblock the interior of the box from the exterior said grid including abase portion defining a series of supporting steps adapted to supportthe bottoms of said cups in tiered relationship; a heater within the boxlocated beneath said tray to heat the interior thereof; a screendisposed above the heater and beneath the tray which is removable fromsaid box together with said heater; a supporting structure rising abovesaid box; and radiant heat means carried by the supporting structurepositioned to direct radiant energy downwardly toward the box and hencethrough the grid over said tray to the interior ofthe box.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,091,714 Stanley Mar. 31, 1914 1,282,195 Crary Oct. 22, 1918 1,514,375Crimmel Nov. 4, 1924 1,535,638 Wallman Apr. 28, 1925 2,429,241schuidinef ocr. 2i, 1947 2,434,166 Klumpp Ian. 6, 1948 2,738,410 Ness etal. Mar. 13, 1956

